Saying Adam Morrison’s basketball career peaked in college is an understatement. He was a star at Gonzaga, co-player of the year, and it earned him the third overall pick in the 2006 Draft to the Charlotte Bobcats.
Since then, it’s only been bad news. Morrison sat out the 2007-08 season with an injury then he got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he barely ever saw the floor while they won two NBA championships. He was released after the 2009-10 season, signed with the Washington Wizards, and was cut from their team before the next season even started. He’s been playing overseas ever since.
Now he’s back, giving it another try. Morrison is playing for the Brooklyn Nets in the Orlando Summer League, hoping to impress their coaches or the coaches or scouts of another NBA team. He clearly wants another chance to prove himself.
“I like playing the game,” said Morrison. “I still have a love for the game. And that’s why I’m still coming out here every day doing what I can to give it another shot. I don’t want to walk away when I think there might still be a chance.”
I admire the guy’s determination but obviously that’s not all it takes to play in the NBA. He’s always been a decent shooter but his lack of athleticism is what kept him from being able to contribute. It’s much harder to get off a good jumper in the NBA than it is in college, and Morrison found that out real quick. That hasn’t changed and it never will. There are also no easy defensive assignments in the big leagues and if you can’t keep up, then there’s no spot for you on the floor.
Adam Morrison was never destined to be a star in the NBA like he was in college. There may be some team that wants him to be the last guy on their bench, but he’s probably never going to help a franchise win a championship. If he wants to keep playing, his best bet may be going back overseas. You have to respect his resolve though. Not many guys would be able to come back again and again after they’d been labeled one of the biggest busts of all time.
